Decorative balloon



y 1932- c. A. FROST DECORATIVE BALLOON Filed Jan. 24. 1930 Patented May17, 1932 PATENT OFFICE CARL A. FROST, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS DECORATIVEBALLOON Application filed January 24, 1930. Serial No. 423,128.

The invention relates to a decorative mi. cle or device and moreparticularly to a translucent inflatable balloon having internalilluminating means so; designed and disposed as to reproduce .on thewalls of the balloon multi-colored decorations of a highly attractiveand ornamental nature.

The invention is especially adaptable for parties, dinners, dances andother social func- 16 tions involving the presence of a number of peoplewhere it is desired to provide attractive decoration and illuminationfor the hall, room or auditorium.

I The individual balloons constituting the 5 invention are so designedas to be arranged singly or in groups, clusters or festoons, dependingupon individual tastes and the size and character of the hall. In theirpreferred embodiment the balloons are designed for 6 illumination byelectrical means and for this purpose either batteries or the usualhouse current may constitute the electrical power source. For thispurpose each balloon has its individual wires which are suitablyconnected E5 to the power line in such manner that the groups orclusters of balloons are connected in series or series parallel as maybe desired, and each balloon receives its own supply of electricalenergy. 7

In addition to providing an, ornamental and attractive colored"decoration for the hall, the complete assembly of balloons mayconstitute the means for illuminating the premises with a soft andsubdued light which is often found desirable at various gatherings.Should natural or artificial means be employed for swaying or agitatingthe balloon, for example by a blast of air from one D or more electricfans, this results in an oscil- 4 o lating or swaying of the balloonwalls relative to their internal illuminating means,

which results in movements, changes and contractions and enlargements ofthe multicolored decorations reproduced on'the translucent balloonwalls, all of which give a pleas.-

ing ornamental reaction to the eye.

The invention further contemplates means for efiectively andconveniently inflating and deflating each individual balloon, as well asmaintaining the same in inflated condition for indefinite periods, whichmay be desired, for example in the interior decoration of cafes and thelike.

A further object of the invention is to provide an article or device ofthe character described which may be conveniently assembled anddismantled.

With such objects in view as well as other advantages which may beincident to the use of the improvements, the invention consists in theparts and combinations thereofhereinafter set forth and claimed, withthe understanding that the several necessary elements constituting thesame may be varied 1n proportions and arrangement without de '65 partingfrom the nature and scope of the invention. e I

In order to make the invention more clearly understood there are shownin the accompanying drawings means for carrying the same into practicalelfect, without limiting-the improvements, in'their useful applications,to the particular constructions which, for the purpose of explanation,have been made the subject of illustration. 7

In said drawings, 7 I p Fig. 1 is a view of three of the translucentinflatable balloons of the character contemplated by the invention, saidballoons being illustrated as, arranged in series and connected to asuitable power source, it being understood that the said individualilluminated balloons may be arranged in a variety of groups, clusters orfestoons, depending upon individual taste. v

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of one of the translucent balloons or lights.1

Fig. 3 is a similar view, partially broken away, to show the internalassembly, and in which view the oscillating or swaying moved mentsof theballoon wall relative to the illuminating means is indicated by dottedlines.

W 'Fig'. 4 is a horizontal section through the center of a balloon, andshowing a part of the illuminating means in end elevation. 5

Fig. 5 is an enlarged central'vertical section through the illuminatingmeans or element.

f Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the outer translucent tube, shell orcasing constituting 0 a part of the illuminating means for the interiorof the balloon.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates the translucent inflatableballoon member, which is of usual construction and is formed for exampleof thin rubber or other resilient and expansible material. Each balloonmember is provided with the usual integral restricted neck portion 2terminating in a circumferential enlargement or reinforcing bead 3. Theballoon is designed to be inflated and deflated through the restrictedneck portion.

The means for effectively and ornamentally illuminating the interior ofthe balloon, as well as preventing the escape of air or gas therefromwhen inflated, consists of a translucent tube or casing 4, formedpreferably of glass and consisting of a smooth surfaced hollow cylinderclosed at its inner or lower end only as shown at 5. The glass tube orcylinder 4 is provided preferably adjacent its closed end and over theend wall with a color decoration shown generally at 6 and consisting ifdesired of a series of sections or areas of difierent colors which forconvenience of illustration are shown as squares 6a. This coloredportion of the tube should be understood as consisting of one coloralone or of different colors arranged in any desired manner or shapes,for example of juxtaposed lines or circles, etc.

The translucent tube member is further provided at its open end 7 withan orifice or aperture 8 to provide a means of conveniently inflatingthe balloon, either by lung power or from a suitable air or fluidpressure source. It will be noted that the air orifice 8 is disposed ata point on the tube where it is nor mally effectively closed by thecontracting action of the restricted neck portion 2 of the balloon, asshown in Fig. 3. The contracting neck portion 2 fits closely and firmlyagainst the glass surface of the tube and constiutes the sole means forretaining the balloon in inflated position, thereby dispensing with thenecessity for separate or auxiliary valves for this purpose.

The tube or cylinder 4 is designed to receive and house an elongatedcylindrical plug member 9 constituting a known and commerciallyobtainable insulated electrical connection having a metallic socketportion 10 for the reception of an electric light bulb 11. The plugmember 9 has the usual electrical connection or wires 12 communicatingin turn with the source of electrical energy indicated at 13 in Fig. 1.The plug member 9 is further provided with one or more elongated leafspring members 14 suitably secured at one end as at 15 to the socketportion of the plug and bowed at their centers to provide a yieldablemeans for retaining the plug within the tube 4:. This preventsinadvertent or accidental displacement of the parts when the devices areassembled and the bal- 10011 is disposed in depending position as i1-lustrated. When the described elements are assembled it will be observedthat the electric light bulb is contained within the translucent tube 4adjacent its closed end and within the color decorated portion of thetube.

Upon closing the circuit the bulb 11 is illuminated and in turnilluminates brightly the color decoration area 6 of the translucenttube, and this decoration is magnified and reproduced by the light rayson the walls of the balloon member. The latter being thin andtranslucent results in the color decoration being visible with pleasingefiect on the outer wall of the balloon. When the balloon or a pluralityof the same are agitated by natural or artificial air currents, the thinflexible walls of the same oscillate or sway laterally and relative tothe tube 4 and its internally contained illuminating means, as indicatedby the dotted lines 16 in Fig. 3. This produces diversified changes,movements and expansions of the reproduced ornamental lighting effectvisible to the observer on the balloon walls, with resulting phenomenapleasing to the eye and of a highly ornamental and decorative nature.

In assembling the parts the tube member 4: is inserted or projected withits closed end innermost into the interior of the balloon, therestricted neck portion 2 of the latter being widened or distended forthis purpose. The insertion is preferably carried out until the aperture8 is projected within the neck portion 2, at which time the body portionof the balloon may be inflated to the desired degree by blowing throughthe open end of the tube, as will be understood. For this purpose eitherthe human lungs may be employed or any suitable source of air pressure.After the balloon is inflated the tube 4 is retracted slightly until thecontracting neck portion 2 is substantially in alignment with the airaperture 8 at which time the contracting tendency of the neck portionserves to effectually seal the tube against the egress of air. The plug9 with its electric light bulb 11 is next inserted intothe open end ofthe tube and is yieldably maintained in adjusted position therein bymeans of the flexible leaf spring member or members as shown in Fig. 5.The device is completelyready for service when the electric circuitcommunicating with the bulb 11 is closed.

By extending thev color or decorated portion of the tube over the closedend 5 thereof a maximum area of reproduced surface decoration isimparted to the translucent balloon walls as will be apparent. It willbe understood that the color decoration portion 6 may be disposed atvarious portions of the tube if desired, but the embodiment describedand illustrated has been found to produce desirable and attractiveresults. The invention further contemplates the use of other known meansof illuminating the interior of the translucent tube 4:, althoughelectrical energy has been found to be well suited for the purpose. Itis further possible to inflate the balloon member when the aperture 8 isencircled by the neck portion 2 of the balloon, especially whenmechanical air pressure means are employed. The neck 2 of the balloonyields sufliciently to permit the interior of the body to be inflatedand immediately contracts to efiectually close the aperture 8 when thepressure is relieved. In assembled condition one or a plurality ofballoons have been found to maintain their inflated state indefinitelywithout any substantial or appreciable loss of their air content.

The reproduced and if desirable vari-colored effects on the walls of theballoon, and which enlarge or contract with the swaying movement of thewalls relative to the illuminated tube, are indicated on the drawings at17.

I claim 1. In a decorative light the combination of a translucentinflatable balloon, a translucent member inserted into the interior ofthe balloon and having a decorated portion, and illuminating meansinserted into said member within said decorated portion, wherebythe :iotransmitted light from the illuminating means will reproduce thedecoration on the balloon, said balloon being supported so that theswaying of the latter relative to the illuminant will cause movementsand changes of the decoration on the balloon.

2. In a decorative light the combination of a translucent inflatableballoon member, a glass tube inserted into the interior of the balloonand having its inner end decorated with colors, and illuminating meansinserted into said tube within said colored end, whereby the transmittedlight from the illuminating means will reproduce the said colors on theballoon walls, said balloon being supported so'that the swaying of thelatter relative to the illuminating means will cause 1novements andchanges of the vari-colored design visible on the translucent walls ofthe balloon. 3. In a decorative light the combination of a translucentinflatable balloon having a resilient neck portion, a translucent memberclosed at its inner end and open at its outer end and inserted into thecontracted neck of the balloon, and adapted to receive a. lightingelement, said tube having a normally unobstructed air opening at itsside for inflating the balloon, said opening being closed against theescape of airby the contracted neck of the ballon after inflation of thelatter. In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

CARL A. FROST.

